An adept bunter and daring baserunner, his soccer training paid off several times when he intentionally kicked the ball out of defenders’ mitts while sliding. Cleveland manager Al Lopez said Ávila had “a fine swing, a sharp eye, a good spirit of competition … and a world of confidence in himself.” – Jane Charnin-Aker

Roberto Francisco Ávila González - known as “Beto” …

“Baseball is a better game for the fans when you have two starting pitchers engaged in a duel, rather than each pitching five innings and turning it over to a long series of interchangeable relievers.” – Bill James
                         

I was watching an interview the other day with Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins.  He was talking about his workload as a …

I first travelled with the Mop-up Duty boys to Comerica in 2002 on the way back from Chicago after seeing the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.  It was 3 years after the ballpark had opened in 1999 and the Tigers were a terrible team that season, going 55-106.  We saw them in early August - August 5th, 2002 to be specific.  I …

For his entire 25-year baseball career (save for one season) Héctor Espino played in Mexico.  In Mexican professional baseball, he was the premier slugger, hitting 783 home runs in his career (combining Mexican League, Mexican Pacific League and International League numbers).  This is how he earned the nickname “The Mexican Babe Ruth.”

Espino was born June 6th, 1939 in Chihuahua, Mexico.  A 5’11″ 185lbs. …

 This week the Mop Up Duty boys went on a quick and dirty road trip to the Rock n’ Roll city of Cleveland, Ohio to see some Jays vs. Indians as well as hit up the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

I was very much looking forward to adding Progressive Field to our Ballpark Review series of posts because I …